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The ratings for the first Republican debate of 2024 were significantly lower than in 2016, when more than 24 million Americans tuned in. This time around, viewership was estimated to only be in the millions, which paled in comparison to the blockbuster ratings of the 2016 event. Analysts attributed the dip to the current political environment, noting that as Americans are deeply divided in their political views, interest in a Republican primary event may be waning. Additionally, the news coverage of the 2024 debate was significantly less than in 2016—likely due to the fact that the Democratic primary race was taking center stage at the time.
